I am still at the age where I am gathering tools. While I’m in my thirties I still haven’t accumulated enough of those lifelong tools. You know what I mean. The ones that last and last, not those cheap ones you buy for a quarter of the price and that break after only a few uses. I prefer quality, I prefer tools that last. It took me quite a few years to realize that cheaper isn’t always better. That is what we do here at ToughAssTools.

The same can be said for purchasing a portable generator. Adding a generator to your collection of tools is a great addition as it can give you that peace of mind during a power loss event, or it could simply be used for an extended camping trip. Whatever your reason for purchasing a generator you must ensure that you get the right one for you and your needs.

In this article we are going to take a deep dive into DuroMax’s XP4400E 4,400 Watt Portable Generator. We will look at the features that are offered, the Pros, the Cons, and anything that else that comes up in between. At the end of this post you should have a pretty firm grasp on rather this generator is the one for you, or if you should be looking at an alternative product.

Before You Buy

Before you consider purchasing a generator rather it be this model or something else it is always smart to stop and take a step back to look at all of the possible considerations that need to be factored in. Generators come in all sorts of sizes, features, and safety concerns. Do you know what to look for? Do you know where to begin? If you do, then by all means bypass this section and move right onto the Product Features.

However, if you find that you still have some questions on what to look for then I highly suggest you take the time and read through some of our guides. These guides will serve as your compass in the maze that are generators. Yes, I know, that was a bad analogy. Oh well. That aside, these guides will provide you the knowledge on what to look for and after reading if you find that this product isn’t the right one for you then we have served our purpose by steering you in the right direction.

If you are not sure what size of generator you should be buying click here to be taken to our generator size guide. Also, be aware that sizing your generator isn’t as easy as estimating or guessing. In order to get the appropriate and correct power required you need to take the time to add up all of the wattages of your appliances and figure out the starting/running watts of each.

If you are not sure what features you should be looking for then click here to be taken to our top features for generators guide. This guide dives deep into the various bells and whistles that you can get on your generator. If you’re a bare bones guy then this article may not be for you, but if you are looking to get some of those extra features and save yourself some time and headaches then I suggest you check out the guide.

Like it or not maintaining your generator and ensuring it is running properly is a must. After all, you want your generator and your investment to last, right? Well ensuring the proper maintenance is done year after year will do just that. Click here to be taken to our Generator Maintenance Guide.

Lastly, if you are not quite sure how to safely use and run a generator then please click here to be taken to our safety guide. This could be setting up the system, grounding your generator, or running your generator. Safety is something I just can’t stress enough of when dealing with generators. These machines can be life savers but they can also be very dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. If used incorrectly it can lead to property damage, fire damage, personal injury, or even fatalities. Safety first!

Product Features

Duromax XP4400E 4,400 Watt Portable Generator

The DuroMax Power XP4400E comes with forty-four-hundred starting watts and thirty-five hundred running watts. When looking at the product on Amazon we can see it directly advertises the forty-four-hundred surge/starting watts. While this number is true, you should really be looking at the running watts to determine if this generator will have enough power for your needs. Starting watts are only designed to be used for a few seconds and are used for starting an appliance that contains a motor like a refrigerator or an air conditioner. They are not a long term wattage solution. That is where running watts come in. In this case you can do quite a bit with thirty-five hundred running watts. You could use this generator during a camping trip, RVing, on a job site, or for emergency home power. (Please note that if you use this for emergency home power that the generator does NOT have enough power capacity to connect to your power panel via a manual transfer switch.) The wattage that you do have would be enough to power an air conditioner for your RV or you could power both your refrigerator, deep freeze, and some other miscellaneous appliances in your home.

The XP4400E comes with two one-hundred and twenty volt outlets along with one two-hundred and forty volt outlet. The generator also comes with what’s known as a ‘voltage selector switch.’ This switch allows you to customize the type of power that you need. If you have a two-hundred and forty volt appliance plugged into your generator then you must have the switch in the 120/240v position. Inversely, if you have just one-hundred and twenty volt appliances plugged in then the switch should be on the 120V Only position. This switch makes it easy to move back and forth as needed.

The other day I was writing an article about what can happen when you overload your generator. An overload is when you are trying to pull too much power from your generator, or you are exceeding it’s total wattage. In the article I explained how you can overload your generator and what the consequences could be if you did. Now, hopefully you don’t have that problem, but IF you do end up overloading your generator by mistake you can rest assured as this model comes with a circuit breaker that will stop an overload from occurring. If your generator senses and overload it will shut down automatically to prevent damage to the system. This is a nice insurance policy on an expensive tool.

I’m not a big fan of the rip-cord start on my weed whacker. It’s a pain to get started each time and at the end when it finally does start my arm is sore. When there is an electric start option I’m apt to take it. In this case with the XP4400E we have just that, and electric starter. That means no messing with the rip-cord. Instead you hit the ignition and call it good. (Batteries are included with purchase as well.)

This DuroMax generator runs on standard eighty-seven octane gasoline. That is most likely the same gasoline that your vehicle or lawn mower uses. The product comes with a four gallon tank and can last up to eight hours on one tank. (The eight hours can be variable depending on the load of the generator.) There is also a fuel gauge on this product that is all white when it is empty and will turn red as fuel is added. (Please note that the fuel gauge may not show correctly if there is less then one third of a tank.) The recommend oil for this product is SAE 10W-30, and as most of you know the oil needs to be checked and added each time fuel is added to ensure your system is running efficiently. The good news is that if you forget to add oil the XP4400E has what’s known as an emergency low oil shut-off switch. This switch does just what’s described, it shuts your generator off if it gets too low on oil. This protects your generator and prevents any overheating damage.

Ok, there are a few more minor things I want to mention before we move on to the Pros section. The first is that this generator comes with a one inch steel frame that serves to protect the generator from falls or from something falling on it. The actual generator sits on this frame as well to ensure smooth and even operation. For those of you that don’t know, portable generators can be heavy. Some of them are really heavy. This particular generator comes with a wheel kit and handles that will make the generator a bit easier to move around.

DuroMax XP4400E Power Panel

Pros

The Pros section can be a bit tricky as we have already covered a lot of the product features in our previous section. Many of these features can be considered Pros as well. So, how do we make the determination as to what’s a Pro and what’s a Feature? It can be difficult but here is what we have put together for you:

This model of generator is fully complaint with Environmental Protection Agency regulations. On top of that it is also complaint with what’s known as CARB. CARB stands for California Air Resources Board. What this means is that this generator is able to be ran in all fifty states. While that’s not something you would really think about it is a good peace of mind to know that you aren’t breaking any laws!

Whenever I am buying an expensive tool like this I like to know that I have a warranty standing behind the product in case something goes wrong. In this case this DuroMax generator comes with a three year home warranty and a one year commercial warranty. So, if something does go wrong you are covered.

We mentioned the wheel kit that comes with this generator, but what we didn’t mention is that this wheel kit comes with solid state tires. What that means is that your tire is never going to go flat. I can imagine nothing worse then scrounging around for your generator during a power loss. You finally find it tucked away in a corner of your garage and then you realize the tires are flat. Now you have to fix the tire as well as get the power back on. Not fun. These solid tires will prevent that and will always be there for you in whatever situation.

I’ve never been a big fan of noise. The quieter the better for me and the XP4400E is quiet… for a generator. Sure, the unit is still going to be loud but there are loud generators and there are LOUD generators. In this case this system comes in at around sixty-nine dbas. I looked up similar noises at this level and the best comparison I could find is that it’s about the same level as your clothes washer. That’s not too bad.

Cons

Alright folks on to the Cons. While this product is highly reviewed in most places I looked there are always going to be downsides. In this case the number one downside I saw for this product was that the unit did not start at all. In other words, the consumer received a bad product that needs to be warrantied. We all know this happens, but what’s funny and a little sad here is that some reviewers bought this generator and kept it in the box until the time came where they needed it. They didn’t try to turn it on upon receiving it. No. They sat on it until their power went out and then when they tried to start their generator up nothing happened. Heck, that may have not even been the company’s fault depending on how the consumer stored the generator. The point I’m making here folks is to test your generator after purchasing. Make sure that it is working. If it’s not, then take advantage of that three year warranty.

Two smaller Cons that I wanted to point out are the weight and the lack of power for a manual transfer switch. First, the weight. This unit comes in at around one-hundred and thirty pounds. That’s heavy, even for me, and I’m a bigger guy. The good news is that this unit does come with wheels and handles, but it still may be a bit difficult to move around. Yes, it is a portable unit… but you’re going to work for that mobility! Second, is the manual transfer switch. For those that don’t know having a manual transfer switch to hook your generator up to your home is a must if you wish to get your furnace or central air conditioner back on. You see these large appliances don’t really have an outlet, instead they are tied directly into your power panel. The only way you can power these with a generator is by connecting it to your power panel via a manual transfer switch. The minimum wattage amount to do this is five-thousand, so on this case the generator fall short.

When buying things online there is always risk of damage from the transport carrier. This is moreso when you are dealing with a larger product like a generator. While most people who order this item receive it in fine condition there is still the risk of the unit arriving to your home damaged. If this does happen then I would recommend filing a complaint with Amazon on your order. If you aren’t having any luck in that avenue then you could file a claim on DuroMax’s website under their three year warranty.

Conclusion

The DuroMax Power XP4400E is a great buy for those of you looking for a portable generator with just enough power to get you through some hard times. While it cannot power your whole home, it can give you that power when it is most needed rather it be at the campsite, the RV parking lot, or at a construction site. Whatever your reason for purchasing one I can safely say that this is a great product. If you don’t believe me you can check out our Amazon.com product page and see just how many positive reviews there are. As I write this article there are over seven-hundred reviews all with an average rating of four out of five stars. That is an impressive rating especially with that many people reviewing. If you are interested in purchasing this product please click here to be taken to our Amazon.com partner.

However, after reading this review you have found that this generator is not the one for you rather it be for the features it offers, the price, or just the overall size of the unit then let me suggest you check out our Best Generator Guide by clicking here. This guide takes you through what type of generator you need for each application and what our ToughAssTool top picks are in each category.

Lastly, I want to mention the legal stuff. This article was written for advice and informational purposes only. We here at ToughAssTools are not responsible nor liable for any property damage, fire damage, injuries, or any other related matters when it comes to purchasing, installing, and running your generators.

Disclaimer

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